Historic railroad cars

October 17, 2011 7:49 PM

Photo: For To Chronicle :Thomas B. Shea

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Charles Hatfield of Concord, California, who has 17 years of touring the country on trains, enters one of the eighteen historic passenger train cars at the Galveston Railroad Museum Monday, Oct. 17, 2011. With various owners, the cars have a combined value of $25 million. The train cars have been used by Presidents Truman, George H. W. Bush, Clinton and Obama as well as professional sports figures and celebrities. The train is traveling to the American Association of Private Railroad Car Owners convention in Kansas City. less

Charles Hatfield of Concord, California, who has 17 years of touring the country on trains, enters one of the eighteen historic passenger train cars at the Galveston Railroad Museum Monday, Oct. 17, 2011. With ... more

Passenger Frank Dziama, left, from Verona, Pa, talks to porter Douglas Peterson, right, in the observation room of the Virginia City train car. The Virginia City, Pullman built in 1928, as Crystal Peak for the Overland Limited. Renamed Golden Peak in 1938, and assigned to the Golden State Limited. Lucius and Charles Clegg purchased the car in 1954 and created a one-of-a-kind Venetian Renaissance interior, complete with crystal chandelier and marble fireplace. The present owner has restored the interior to the original circa 1955, opulence. The car is owned by Wade Pellizzer and is based in Redwood City, California. less

Passenger Frank Dziama, left, from Verona, Pa, talks to porter Douglas Peterson, right, in the observation room of the Virginia City train car. The Virginia City, Pullman built in 1928, as Crystal Peak for ... more

The Virginia City, Pullman built in 1928, as Crystal Peak for the Overland Limited. renamed Golden Peak in 1938, and assigned to the Golden State Limited. Lucius and Charles Clegg purchased the car in 1954 and created a one-of-a-kind Venetian Renaissance. The present owner has restored the interior to the original circa 1955, opulence. The car is owned by Wade Pellizzer and is based in Redwood City, California. less

The Virginia City, Pullman built in 1928, as Crystal Peak for the Overland Limited. renamed Golden Peak in 1938, and assigned to the Golden State Limited. Lucius and Charles Clegg purchased the car in 1954 and ... more

Photo: For To Chronicle :Thomas B. Shea

The Virginia City, Pullman built in 1928, as Crystal Peak for the... Photo-1678759.31519 - Houston Chronicle

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A Murango Glass light fixture hangs on the ceiling of the Virginia City train car. The Virginia City, Pullman built in 1928, as Crystal Peak for the Overland Limited. It was renamed Golden Peak in 1938, and assigned to the Golden State Limited. Lucius and Charles Clegg purchased the car in 1954 and created a one-of-a-kind Venetian Renaissance interior. The present owner has restored the interior to the original circa 1955, opulence. The car is owned by Wade Pellizzer and is based in Redwood City, California. less

A Murango Glass light fixture hangs on the ceiling of the Virginia City train car. The Virginia City, Pullman built in 1928, as Crystal Peak for the Overland Limited. It was renamed Golden Peak in 1938, and ... more

Photo: For To Chronicle :Thomas B. Shea

A Murango Glass light fixture hangs on the ceiling of the Virginia... Photo-1678760.31519 - Houston Chronicle

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Grant Elliott, a porter with the Santa Fe 56 train car, cleans the windows of the historic passenger car. The Santa Fe 56 was built by Pullman as a business car for the Santa Fe Railway in 1923, and was originally assigned to the vice president of operations in Chicago. Its original road number was 34. in 1953 the car was modernized by lowering ceilings and updating the interior to make it more contemporary. Work was done at Santa Fe's Topeka shops. in 1973 the car was again rebuilt by the Santa Fe in Fort Worth and renumbered 56. The car is owned by Tom Hoback, Founder and CEO of Indiana Railroad and is frequently used as its business car on its routes between Chicago, Indianapolis, Louisville and central Illinois. The car has never been out of Santa Fe marks and represents the car as used in the 1950s. less

Grant Elliott, a porter with the Santa Fe 56 train car, cleans the windows of the historic passenger car. The Santa Fe 56 was built by Pullman as a business car for the Santa Fe Railway in 1923, and was ... more

Sherrie Conover talks about the Wisconsin train car dining room, one of the eighteen historic passenger train cars at the Galveston Railroad Museum Monday, Oct. 17, 2011. With various owners, the cars have a combined value of $25 million. The train is traveling to the American Association of Private Railroad Car Owners convention in Kansas City. less

Sherrie Conover talks about the Wisconsin train car dining room, one of the eighteen historic passenger train cars at the Galveston Railroad Museum Monday, Oct. 17, 2011. With various owners, the cars have a ... more

John Mickey the chef of the Wisconsin train car cooks breakfast in the Wisconsin galley. The Wisconsin train car is one one of the eighteen historic passenger train cars at the Galveston Railroad Museum Monday, Oct. 17, 2011. The train is traveling to the American Association of Private Railroad Car Owners convention in Kansas City. less

John Mickey the chef of the Wisconsin train car cooks breakfast in the Wisconsin galley. The Wisconsin train car is one one of the eighteen historic passenger train cars at the Galveston Railroad Museum Monday, ... more

David Hoffman, left, Mike Anderson and Marilyn Hoffman, right, enter between the Northern Dreams and Northern Sky train cars. The Northern Dreams and Northern Sky were two of eighteen historic passenger cars on train stopped at the Galveston Railroad Museum as it was traveling to the American Association of Private Railroad Car Owners convention in Kansas City. less

David Hoffman, left, Mike Anderson and Marilyn Hoffman, right, enter between the Northern Dreams and Northern Sky train cars. The Northern Dreams and Northern Sky were two of eighteen historic passenger cars ... more

Goy Warner, left, the stewart of the Northern Sky train car makes breakfast for passenger Paul DeVerter, right, of Houston in the lounge of the Northern Sky passenger train car. The Northern Sky was built by American Car and Foundry in 1955 for the Union Pacific Railroad as number 9003. After passing into a private ownership in 1992, the interior was completely redesigned to accommodate the eight guest in four staterooms. The car's furniture and wood finish are Honduras mahogany. The car is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and owned by David and Marilyn Hoffman. less

Goy Warner, left, the stewart of the Northern Sky train car makes breakfast for passenger Paul DeVerter, right, of Houston in the lounge of the Northern Sky passenger train car. The Northern Sky was built by ... more

Elaine Stahl, from Sandwich, Illinois watches television in the lounge of the Northern Dreams train car. The Northern Dreams built by Pullman-Standard in 1955, a five bedroom-buffet-Redwood Lounge car North Platte for the Union Pacific Railroad. Rebuilt by UP to an 11-bedroom car in 1956, and named Star Scene. Number 1705 was added in 1969. Sold to Amtrak in 1971, and the number was changed to 2254. It was later changed to 2230 when the car was modified for service on Amtrak's Auto Train. The car was retired in 1997. The current owner purchased the car in 1999, upgraded, refurbished it and renamed it Northern Dreams. In 2003, the car was upgraded and reconfigured as a six-bedroom/lounge. The car is owned by David and Marilyn Hoffman and based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. less

Elaine Stahl, from Sandwich, Illinois watches television in the lounge of the Northern Dreams train car. The Northern Dreams built by Pullman-Standard in 1955, a five bedroom-buffet-Redwood Lounge car North ... more

Goy Warner, the stewart of the Northern Sky train car in the dome of the Northern Sky passenger train car. The Northern Sky was built by American Car and Foundry in 1955 for the Union Pacific Railroad as number 9003. The car was one of fifteen dome-lounge-observation cars used on the Union Pacific's City series trains. The car was sold to the original Auto Train in 1973, and continued in that service for seven years. After passing into a private ownership in 1992, the interior was completely redesigned to accommodate the eight guest in four staterooms. The car's furniture and wood finish are Honduras mahogany. The car is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and owned by David and Marilyn Hoffman. less

Goy Warner, the stewart of the Northern Sky train car in the dome of the Northern Sky passenger train car. The Northern Sky was built by American Car and Foundry in 1955 for the Union Pacific Railroad as number ... more